17 LinkedIn connection message templates

A good connection note is specific, short, and easy to answer. A bad one is a pitch with a first name merge tag.

Use these as starting points. Swap in real details. If you cannot fill the placeholders with something true, pick a quieter invite, or skip the person.

Rules before the templates

• LinkedIn Help currently states a 200-character connection-note limit, so one or two sentences is all you get (check your draft locally)
• One reason you are reaching out, not your life story
• No calendar link in the connection note
• No "I'd love to pick your brain"
• Review the campaign and its notes before launch

Networking and warm-context notes

1. Mutual context

When: You share a community, podcast, event, or mutual connection.

Hi {{first_name}}, we both {{shared_context}}. I've been following your work on {{topic}} and would like to connect.

2. Second-degree connection through a shared contact

When: You can see who you both know, and the shared contact would not mind being name-dropped.

Hi {{first_name}}, I see we're both connected to {{shared_contact}} from {{context}}. Would like to join your network.

3. Alumni of the same school or program

When: You share a university, accelerator, or program. Alumni respond well to alumni.

Hi {{first_name}}, fellow {{program}} alum here ({{your_year}}). Building in {{space}} now and always glad to know people from {{school}}. Happy to connect.

4. Warm intro follow-up

When: Someone offered to introduce you.

Hi {{first_name}}, {{introducer}} suggested we connect. I work on {{one_liner}}. Looking forward to saying hello properly.

5. Post-event / webinar follow-up

When: You were in the same room (virtual or not).

{{first_name}}, good to briefly cross paths at {{event}}. Your point about {{topic}} stuck with me. Would like to stay connected.

6. Speaker or podcast guest follow-up

When: They spoke, presented, or guested and you genuinely took something from it.

Hi {{first_name}}, your talk on {{topic}} at {{event}} reframed how I think about {{area}}. Would like to follow your work here.

7. They engaged your content first

When: They reacted to or commented on your post. Warmest signal on this list.

{{first_name}}, thanks for engaging my post on {{topic}}. The comment you left about {{their_point}} especially landed. Good to connect?

Founder-led sales and partnership notes

8. Specific compliment + soft ask

When: Their post or product genuinely stood out.

{{first_name}}, your note on {{specific_point}} was useful. Building something adjacent at {{your_company}}. Happy to connect, no pitch in this note.

9. Customer / user research

When: You are talking to people in your ICP and want conversations, not demos.

Hi {{first_name}}, I'm talking to {{role}}s at {{company_type}} about how they handle {{problem}}. Would value connecting even if timing isn't right for a chat.

10. Trigger-event congratulations

When: They just raised, launched, won an award, or hit a milestone. Congratulate first, sell never (in this note).

Hi {{first_name}}, congratulations on {{milestone}}. Exciting to watch what {{company}} is building. Would love to connect and follow along.

11. Competitor-aware but polite

When: They use a category you play in. Do not trash the competitor.

Hi {{first_name}}, noticed you're exploring {{category}}. We built {{your_company}} for teams that want {{differentiator}}. Happy to connect; glad to share notes if useful later.

12. Referral request to an adjacent provider

When: They serve the same customers differently (accountant ↔ lawyer ↔ agency), and you have real context on their work.

Hi {{first_name}}, your work with {{audience}} on {{their_service}} came up twice this month. I help the same crowd with {{your_service}} and think there's overlap. Open to connecting?

Hiring and job-search notes

13. Founder-led hiring outreach

When: You are hiring and want a warm first touch.

{{first_name}}, impressed by your work at {{company}} on {{area}}. We're hiring a {{role}} at {{your_company}}. Happy to share the role if useful, or just connect either way.

14. Cold note to a hiring manager

When: You want to work at their company and a recruiter funnel feels like shouting into the void.

Hi {{first_name}}, I applied for the {{role}} opening at {{company}}. Your team's work on {{specific_project}} is exactly where I want to contribute. Glad to connect either way.

15. Short follow-up after applying

When: A week has passed and you want a human channel without nagging anyone over email.

Hi {{first_name}}, recently applied for {{role}} at {{company}} and wanted to put a face to the application. {{one_line_of_relevant_work}}. Appreciate you taking a look.

Reconnecting and advice notes

16. Quiet reconnect

When: You met years ago and the old thread is cold.

{{first_name}}, we crossed paths around {{old_context}}. I've been heads-down on {{current_focus}} and wanted to reconnect.

17. Asking for perspective, not a pitch

When: Someone is a few steps ahead on a path you are walking. People say yes to generosity more often than to pitches.

Hi {{first_name}}, your path from {{where_they_started}} to {{where_they_are}} is one I'm studying. Would value connecting, and someday maybe ten minutes of perspective if you ever offer it.

What to do after they accept

Send one follow-up that advances a conversation, not a five-email monologue. If they reply, stop the sequence and talk like a person. More on how many invites are safe to send: LinkedIn connection request limits.

Common questions

How long should a LinkedIn connection note be? LinkedIn Help currently states 200 characters. Aim for one or two sentences; specificity beats length every time. Use the LinkedIn character limit checker to count your draft.

Should I pitch in the connection note? No. The note's only job is to earn the accept. Pitching there is why most cold notes get ignored.

What acceptance rate should I expect? It varies wildly by targeting and seniority. If you are consistently under roughly 20-30%, fix the list and the note before touching volume.

Can I use these as-is? Only if you can fill every placeholder with something true. A template with an empty bracket is worse than no message.

How to run these in OmniReach

Paste adapted notes into your campaign review queue, personalize per prospect, approve, then launch within your daily cap. Nothing sends until you say so.

If you are choosing tooling for this workflow, see the best LinkedIn automation tools in 2026, compared.